HDRF held its 18th annual HOPE luncheon seminar on Tuesday, November 12 at The Plaza Hotel. The event focused on “Trauma and Recovery: How the Brain Heals” with top medical experts and beloved actor/producer Mariska Hargitay, who was honored for her work in the trauma field. The event drew 350 guests and raised $650,000 for life-saving mental health research.
HDRF Founder and Chair Audrey Gruss presented Mariska Hargitay with the 2024 HOPE Award for Depression Advocacy. Mariska Hargitay delivered an acceptance speech filled with gratitude, humor and humility.
Every year at the Luncheon Seminar, HDRF brings a psychiatrist and a neuroscientist to speak on the given topic. Dr. Pamela Cantor gave the keynote presentation. Cantor is the CEO of The Human Potential L.A.B., which develops programs for schools and other institutions to teach them the science of stress and its impact on the brain.
The next guest featured in the program was Dr. René Hen, Professor of Neuroscience and Pharmacology at Columbia University, the Director of the Division of Integrative Neuroscience in the Department of Psychiatry at the New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI), and a member of HDRF’s Depression Task Force. Dr. Hen discussed the areas of the brain that underlie conditions like PTSD. He explained that deeply distressing experiences can often disrupt normal memory processing and cause individuals to be haunted by past distressing events. His lab is now starting a pilot clinical trial to test a new medication that can help the brain heal the disrupted memory circuits.
HDRF Executive Director Louisa Benton discussed HDRF’s community outreach and education efforts. She highlighted HDRF’s Race of Hope 5K in Palm Beach and Southampton, as well as the Teen Race of Hope in NYC in May.
James Remez, Founder of Livingston Builders, Inc. accepted the 2024 Hope Corporate Visionary Award. In his remarks he commended Audrey Gruss for her leadership, and HDRF for being such a prominent force in mental health research.
Hank Siegel, CEO of Hamilton Jewelers accepted the 2024 Hope Community Ambassador Award. He received the Award for his initiative to design and create “Charms of Hope,” a line of fine jewelry, in collaboration with the Hope for Depression Research Foundation. All sales of “Charms of Hope” benefit HDRF.
HDRF also acknowledges our generous sponsors!
